Foldable fence.



Patented Oct. 29, |90l.

W. BORRMAN.

FDLDABLE FENCE.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.)

(No Modelwe Mms Patins ca, momufno.. wsnmrau. n. c.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BORRMAN, OF NORFOLK, NEW YORK.

FOLDABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,247, dated October29, 1901.4

Application filed January 9, 1901- Serial No.l4=2,690. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM BORRMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of NewYork, have invented 'a new and useful Foldable Fence, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to fences,and more particularly toportable fences for decorative purposes; and the objects are to provideafoldable article of this character especially adapted to be placed abouta Christmas tree to serve as a decoration for the same and also as aprotector and which may be compactly folded and stored away when not inuse, so that it will occupy a comparatively small space. In order tocarry out these objects, the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings has been p'rovided. This construction is alsofully described in the following specification; but it will beunderstood that it is open to change.

and modification within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Christmas tree,showing the improved fence surrounding the same. Fig. 2 is a detailview, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the fence, more clearlyillustrating the manner of mountingthe standards. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view ofthe ends of the fence, showing the fasteners used in securing themtogether.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention a foldable fence 10 is provided, whichcarries a plurality of upright standards 11, which project both aboveand below the fence, forming legs for the latter and also supports fordecorative purposes.

The fence is of alazy-tongs formation and consists of pairs of crossedslats 12, pivotally connectedV at their central points and having theirends pivotally secured to the ends of the adjacent pairs. By thisconstruction the fence may be folded into a comparatively small spaceorrdrawn out to any length de` sired.

The standards 11 are spaced at suitable distances apart, beingpreferably secured to the fence at the joints of adjacent pairs of theslats. They are pivotally secured contiguous to their lower ends to thelower portion of the fence, preferablyby means of the 'saine pivotconnections that fasten the slats 12 together. .The lower ends of thestandards project a short distance below the fence, and thus formsupporting-feet 13 for the same. The upper edge of the fence is providedwith a series of keepers 14, pivotally connected thereto, through whichsaid standards pass, whereby a sliding bearing for the fence is providedto permit of its adjustment, as will be readily understood. Thestandards 1l extend for some distance above the fence and preferablyhave their upper ends provided. With suitable ornaments or decorations,as 15. Slidably mounted upon these standards are a plurality ofsupportingblocks 16, which may be held at any desired elevation by meansof set-screws 17, that bear againstl said standards. Thesesupporting-blocks each carry a pair of pivotallymounted brackets 18, theends of which have sockets 19 for the reception of candles or otherilluminating devices.

In practice the fence is preferably made in one piece and is designed tobe placed around the tree, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends thereof aredetachably secured together, one of said ends being provided with a pairof hooks 20, that engage links 21, carried by the opposite end. Thestandards, besides supporting the lights and decorations, are alsointended to surround and engage the tree and steady the same, and tohold them in engagement therewith a chain or other iieXible binder 22 issecured at one end to the upper portion of one of the standards andpasses around the entire set. The end of the chain 22 may be secured tothe standard by any well-known means-as, for instance, an eye 23-aandthe free end of the chain may also be fastened in any desired manner, ahook 24 being shown for the purpose, which hook engages one of the linksof the chain. Y

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the fence is arranged about the tree and hasits ends secured together. In this position thefupper portions of thestandards will be in contact with the branches, and this contact isassured by means of the chain 22. seen that the standards assist insteadying and supporting the tree. Furthermore, the decorations at theupper ends thereof serve to enhance its beauty. The illuminating devicescan then be adjusted to any position desired to form an artisticgrouping and also to prevent their being in dangerous proximity to thetree. When not in use, the ends are unfastened and the entire device canbe folded into a comparatively small space for the purpose ot storage.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described foldable fence will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and itwill be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality ofconnected panels, a plurality of independent standards projecting abovethe panels, and means connecting the projecting portions of saidstandards for adjusting the distance between their upper ends, wherebythey may be brought into engagement with the branches of a tree or thelike to form a support for the same.

2. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality ofconnected panels, a plurality of independent standards projecting abovethe panels, and a dexiblebinder arranged to be placed around saidstandards to bring their upper ends into engagement with the branches ofa tree or the like and thus form a support for the same.

3. A foldable fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising aplurality of connected and foldable panels, means for securing the endpanels together, a plurality of independent standards projecting abovethe panel, and a ilexible binder arranged to be placed around saidstandards to bring their upper It will thus bev ends into engagementwith the branches of the tree or the like, and form a support for thesame.

4. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality ofconnected and foldable panels, each of said panels consisting of aplurality of crossed pivotally connected slats, means for securing theend panels together, a plurality of independent standards projectingabove the panels, and a iioxible binder secured at one end to one of thestandards and arranged to be placed around all of said standards tobring their upper ends into engagement with the branches of a tree orthe like and form a support for the same.

5. A fence for Christmas trees or the like, comprising a plurality ofpanels, means for detachably securing the ends of the fence together, aplurality of standards carried by and projecting above the upper edge ofthe fence, and movable brackets located upon said standards and arrangedto support suitable ornaments such as illuminating devices.

6. A fence, comprising a plurality of slats pivotally connected, meansfor detachably securing the ends of the fence together, a plurality ofupright standards carried by the fence, and brackets adjustablysupported upon said standards.

7. In a fence for Christmas trees and the like, the combination with aplurality of crossed slats pivotally connected and forming foldablepanels adapted to be placed about the tree, of means for detachablysecuring the end panels together, a plurality of upright standardssecured to and projecting above the panels and adapted to engage thebranches of the tree, a flexible binder for connecting the upper ends ofsaid standards, and a plurality of ornament-bearing brackets pivotallyand adj ustably mounted upon said standards.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM BORRMAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. LEONARD, D. H. MCLELLAND.

